Keir Starmer response to Philip Hammond’s comments that the UK will seek a Brexit transitional deal

Keir
Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, responding to
Philip Hammond’s comments that the UK will seek a Brexit transitional deal for
up to three years, said:

“Labour
has been calling on the Government to commit to appropriate transitional
arrangements for a long time. If jobs and the economy are to come first, there
can be no threat of a cliff-edge for businesses after we leave the European
Union.

“The
Chancellor now appears to accept this. However, in light of the clear divisions
this week within the Cabinet, I hope the Chancellor was not merely speaking in
a personal capacity.

“I
also hope that this is the final burial of the flawed proposition that ‘no
deal’ is a viable option.”